Portable structure having pivoted boxlike portions



May 15, 1951 w. A. c. SAUNDERS-KNOX-GORE 2,552,691

' PORTABLE STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTED 301141.110; PORTIONS Filed April 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Shget 1 YMW May 15, 1951 2,552,691

PORTABLE STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTED BOX-LIKE PORTIONS Filed April 20. 1946 W. A. C. SAUNDERS'KNOX-GORE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 15, 1 951 PORTABLE STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTED BOXLIKE PORTIONS William Arthur Cecil Saunders-Knox-Gore, Countess Wear, near Exeter, England Application April 20, 1946, Serial No. 663,658 In Great Britain November 23, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 23, 1964 1 Claim. 1

This invention comprises improvements in portable structures adapted for use as dwellings and has for its object to provide a structure which is capable of being readily enlarged to afford living and sleeping accommodation so that, for example, a compact structure capable of being carried on or trailed behind a motor or horse vehicle, or carried on a barge or motor craft can readily be enlarged to provide a bungalow or houseboat when a suitable site or anchorage is reached.

According to this invention, a portable dwelling structure comprises an inner and an outer component which can be turned in relation to one another so as to intersect and thereby provide additional accommodation due to the increased area occupied by the components when intersecting. For example, the two components may be nearly similar in size and shape and each may be an oblong box-like body with slight ly rounded ends, the inner one being dimensioned to fit nicely within the outer one and mounted on a swivel so as to be capable of being turned easily into a position at right angles to the outer component.

One embodiment of the invention as applied, by way of example, to a trailer will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the structure in the closed travelling condition,

Figure 2 an end view, and

Figure 3 a plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the structure in the opened condition, and

Figure 5 a perspective view of the same as seen in the direction of the arrow V in Figure l.

In this example, the portable dwelling structure consists of two compartments I, 2 of nearly similar size and shape each of which comprises an oblong box-like body with part-circular end walls 3, 4. The inner body I is dimensioned to fit snugly within the outer body 2 (Figure 3) and is mounted therein by means of upper and lower pivots 5, 6 so as to be capable of being turned easily into a position at right angles to the outer body (Figure 4). The end walls 3, 4 are shaped to conform with arcs struck from this pivotal axis. The sides of the inner body are fitted with permanent walls 'I and any permanent internal partitions, for example 8, which in the outer body 2 might impede movement of the inner body I, are preferably also provided in the latter. The sides of the outer body 2 are fitted with permanent short walls 9 on opposite sides at opposite ends, but are open at Iii to permit the inner body I to be swung in. Thus, when the latter has been turned into the open position at right angles to the outer body, only the comparatively short externally projecting parts of the openings Ill in the side walls require to be covered or filled in. This may be done by means of curtains II (Figure 5), by flaps hingedly attached to the outer body 2 or inner body I, by devices such as roller blinds, or the like. Each of the components I, 2 may be provided with appropriate windows I 2 and doors I3 and with other accessories such as ventilators.

By way of illustration, let it be assumed that the floor area of the outer body 2 is 21' x 7. In this case, the floor area of the inner body I will be only slightly less as will also the floor area available for use when the inner body is turned into alignment with and wholly contained within the outer body (Figure 3). However, upon turning the inner body until it is at right angles to the outer body, so that the complete structure forms a cross (Figure 4), not only is the aforesaid floor area available, but floor areas of 7 x '7 at each end of the outer body 2 become available in addition. I

Locking means (not shown) may be provided for retaining the inner body I in the travelling position and/or in the opened position in relation to the outer body 2. Strut devices, such as jacks I4, may be provided for supporting or steadying overhanging parts. The outer body may be mounted either fixedly or detachably on a trailer chassis I5, as shown, or on a barge or other carrier and, during transport, the inner body will naturally be in the completely housed longitudinal position. During such transport or until the structure is required in an expanded condition, compartments I6, Il, I8 (Figure 3) of the inner body are available for instance, for use as scullery (or bath room and lavatory), kitchen and lounge. vWhen the structure has been expanded, the end spaces or compartments I9 (Figure 4) of the outer body 2, vacated by the turning of the inner body I, become available, as required, as reception rooms or bed rooms or as additional bed rooms if compartments: I1 and I8 are already fitted with bunks or beds.

In one convenient arrangement, folding beds are carried complete with their bedding in cupboard-like recesses 20 formed in the side walls of the inner body. Any required number of such beds 2| can be lowered into the additional spaces I9 when the components I, '2 are at right angles. The doors closing these bed-cupboards may also 'on its swivel mounting on a, carrier.

side, and, in the expanded condition, the front door l3 (Figure 4).

If desired, the outer component 2 may-also 'be mounted on a swivel on its chassis l5, barge or carrier, so that the whole structure can be turned in any direction to suit prevailing weather conditions.

A rack and pinion gear or other suitable means may be provided for rotating theinnercomponent l in relation to the outer component land also, if desired, for rotating the outercomponent Roller 01 other anti-friction bearings may be provided.

Folding jacks provided at suitable points under the floor'of the outeroomponentmay-be arranged to enable thewhole structure to be lifted slightly so that a trailer chassis can be withdrawn and the structure lowered onto the ground or onto a suitable semi-permanent foundation built thereon:or to any desired height'on the jacks themselves. In this Way only one wheeled chassis may be required for the'removalin' turn of a number of structures where, for example, it might bedesired to remove-awhole holiday camp or a colony of workmens dwellings. 7

When the structure is used on a barge or m0- tor craft, inflatable pontoons may be provided for attachment to the outer ends of the inner component l to help steady thestructure.

It will be apparent that although the outer component 2 may generally be regarded as the fixedly mounted component .and the inner component i as the movable component capable of being turned in relation :to the outer'component it is possible :to'modify the design so that the inner component is the relatively fixed component and the "outer component is the movable one.

The structure is not necessarily limited to two components but may comprise a, greater number of components. For example, three components may be used and may be adjustable in relation to one another so as to produce a six-pointed star-shaped structure'instead-of the cross-shaped structure produced by two components. Alternatively filling pieces for roof, wall and floor gaps between two or more components may be arranged to complete a circular or polygonal structure.

A composite structure embodying these imvprovements is capable of being produced from very light material and nevertheless of possessing considerablestrength when it is remembered that the two components, which normally fit closely. one within the other, are of box formation andtherefore have girder-like qualities.

The term dwelling includes a number of uses .to which 'theimproved structures may be put, as for example ordinary living quarters, holiday camps, temporary hospitals and sanatoria, and so I claim:

Portable dwelling structure comprising an inner and an outer component nearly similar in size and "shape and disposed one in the other, each being an oblong box-like body with arcuate ends, and centrally disposed vertical pivot means connecting the s'aidccomponents, one .of saidioOmponents being mounted upon the said'pivot means so as to be capable of being turnedeasily-about the vertical axisof said .pivotbetweena position in which it is housed snugly within the outer componentand a positionat right angles thereto.

WILLIAM ARTHUR CECIL SAUNDERS KNOX- GORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 1,196,309 Stein .Aug. 29, .1916 1,748,809 Verdini Feb. 25, 1930 2,368,936 .McGehee Feb. :6, 1945 2,384,659 Wait "Sept. 11, .1945

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 52,226 Switzerland .May '9, .1910 421,369 Germany Nov. 10, .1925 683,648 France -2 Mar. 4, v1930 446,028 Great Britain :Apr. :23, I936 

